A 22-year-old woman was beaten to death with a hammer in Bushbuckridge on Wednesday by her husband who then hanged himself, Mpumalanga police said.

The couple were arguing at their home in Mhala when the husband took a hammer and assaulted his wife. Community members, after hearing screams, went to investigate but she was dead on their arrival, said Superintendent Abie Khoabane.

"The 27-year-old man then went and tried to hang himself from a tree but residents were quick to untie him.

"He was taken to hospital under police guard, but later died due to injuries he sustained while trying to commit suicide," said Khoabane.

Sapa